March 2013
Fourth generation Subaru Forester unveiled
Comprehensive facelift of the third generation car, rather than an all-new model, but sharper styling gives the capable off-roader more showroom appeal.
Designed to continue the rugged, capable nature of the outgoing model that has heen massively popular in Switzerland, but with improvements to fuel economy , safety and cabin quality.
It wears sharper styling similar to that introduced on the XV crossover model. The brand’s Subaru’s ‘Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive’ system will still be used, as you might expect following Subaru’s recent announcement that it plans to concentrate heavily on SUVs and crossovers in the UK, so much so it has dropped the Impreza hatchback and WRX saloon.
The interior has been similarly smartened-up with a new dashboard and fixtures and fittings, with the intention of making the well-made but slightly dour outgoing model more inviting.
March 2016
Revised Subaru Forester launched
Pricing remains unchanged for all trim levels in the updated Forester line-up, with the range starting from £25,495 (on-the-road) for the 2.0i XE model and £26,995 for best-selling 2.0D XC models.
Every Forester is equipped with two core Subaru technologies: Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive, affording surefootedness in all conditions; and the latest-generation four-cylinder ‘Boxer’ engines, contributing to the low centre of gravity beneficial to balance, road holding and handling.
At the front of the car, the Forester’s distinctive hexagonal grille has been updated with a new ‘wing’ motif grille mesh, while the front bumper has been reshaped and now features new L-shaped chrome trim adding greater visual volume to the lower part of the Forester’s ‘face’. The change is designed to emphasise the car’s relatively low centre of gravity, wide stance and innate stability.
The wraparound headlamps – retaining Subaru’s signature ‘hawk-eye’ shape – feature a new black base paint finish for a sharper appearance. The 2016 model is also fitted with new LED combination lamps at the rear.
Inside the cabin, new materials and technologies have been introduced to further modernise the interior and introduce a higher-quality look and feel, while still retaining the functionality for which the Forester is renowned.
The interior is finished with a higher proportion of soft-touch materials, new piano black and metallic trim, higher-resolution TFT displays and new cloth and leather upholstery options – including a new brown leather option. Following the adoption of Subaru’s new 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system in 2015, the changes to the 2016 Subaru Forester are designed to further improve the quality look and feel of the cabin.
Thicker glass has been applied to every door and the front quarter lights at the base of the A-pillar, reducing the ingress of wind ‘rush’ and other noises into the cabin. Additional soundproofing material has been added around the dashboard, particularly where the dashboard meets the base of the windscreen and in the front passenger foot well, minimising noise intrusion from wind rush and the engine, respectively.
The 2016 Forester adopts new headlamp technologies which include LED lights with Adaptive Front Lighting System. The new Adaptive Front Lighting System allows the headlamps to rotate left or right into corners as the driver turns the wheel. By illuminating the road ahead in the direction in which the vehicle is traveling, the Forester’s night visibility is greatly improved, particularly useful in poorly-lit rural areas.
All existing safety equipment on offer is fitted as standard to every model in the Forester range, including twin front, side, curtain and knee airbags, Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC; Subaru’s electronic stability control system) with trailer stability, and Subaru’s hallmark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive technology.
Updated suspension settings at the front and rear are designed to make the car comfortable and refined, particularly over broken or choppy surfaces, plus there's a new steering gearbox which quickens the steering ratio.
The range of engines remains unchanged for the 2016 Forester; buyers can choose from three 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engines – a 150 PS naturally-aspirated 2.0i petrol engine and a 147 PS 2.0D turbo-diesel unit from Subaru’s FB family of engines, and a 241 PS direct injection turbocharged (DIT) petrol unit, engineered for high power, responsiveness and efficiency.
A six-speed manual transmission is fitted as standard to 2.0i and 2.0D models, with an optional Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission. Lineartronic is standard on XT models, equipped with the 241 PS DIT petrol engine.
In uneven or slippery road conditions, the all-terrain capability of the standard Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive is enhanced further with the X-Mode on Lineartronic CVT models, a control system which includes Hill Descent Control and makes traction even better than the outgoing model’s.
2.0D XC |
£26,995 |
2.0D XC Lineartronic |
£28,495 |
2.0D XC Premium |
£29,495 |
2.0D XC Premium Lineartronic |
£30,995 |
2.0i XE |
£25,495 |
2.0i XE Lineartronic |
£26,995 |
2.0i XE Premium |
£27,495 |
2.0i XE Premium Lineartronic |
£28,995 |
2.0 DIT XT Lineartronic |
£30,995 |
August 2016
Forester Special Edition launched
On sale from the 1 September, 100 units will be produced and will be priced at £29,995 for the petrol Lineartronic and £31,495 for the diesel Lineartronic. Based on the XC Premium model, the Special Edition model comes with £1,500 of additional equipment at no extra cost.
Unique equipment for the Forester Special Edition includes Hunter Green Metallic Paint, front, side and rear under guards, wheel arch extensions and stainless steel cargo step panel as well as Special Edition brown leather seats with brown leather interior door grips, centre armrest and centre panel uprights.
Other equipment on the Forester Special Edition includes Subaru Starlink, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment, connectivity and navigation system, Hill Descent Control (HDC) and the X-Mode system.
September 2017
Subaru Forester gets EyeSight as standard
EyeSight has two stereo cameras, mounted on each side of the rear-view mirror, and they use image recognition to capture three-dimensional colour images with clinical precisions. The technology can distinguish vehicles, motorbikes, bicycles, pedestrians, lane markings and road furniture and can differentiate between these and determine the general traffic conditions.
With an emphasis on real-world tests and evaluations, EyeSight has been developed to correspond exclusively to the individual country’s traffic conditions.
In total EyeSight uses six technologies to maximise safety including Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, Lane Keep Assist and Lead Vehicle Start Alert.
EyeSight will be standard equipment on all Forester XE Lineartronic and XE Premium Lineartronic models from October and will also be equipped with a black shark fin antenna and DAB radio. Prices start from £28,995.00 on the road.